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Topic Review (Newest First)

04-24-2013 07:09 PM

Sharpchick

Yes, I will have to do partial water changes for a while, particularly until the bog plants mature and the pond ages. However, the same principal of a silent cycle in an aquarium applies here, too - in a contained pond. So it's likely I will not see spikes in ammonia or nitrates.

And yes, I saw that website. I spent months researching this (since September of last year) before I ever invested any money or time.

04-24-2013 06:08 PM

Lia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharpchick

Yes, the heat. And the cold. And what if they breed? And what about aquarium salt, hmmm? (I don't use aquarium salt for any of my fish.)

Ponds are for koi. A galvanized tank will rust. You have to have a power filter - a bog filter isn't sufficient. What about predators? What will you feed?

Plant fertilizers for outdoor plants will be bad for the fish. (They don't get the notion of the self-sustaining eco-system...fish poo equals good plants, good plants equal nicely filtered water.)

And on, and on, and on.

Well as far as cold goes , plenty of people in NY keep Goldfish in ponds which have the top freeze for months.

The Miami fish farm here have Koi in a small pvc type pond as you enter and they sell plenty of goldfish in outside vats.

You could put some large pots or plant shrubs,etc directly around the tank so that the metal doesn't absorb sunrays, heat.

I would think that you will still need to do a water change now and than even with a bog filter ?

I imagine you have seen this site before and would think temps similiar to yours.

Yes, the heat. And the cold. And what if they breed? And what about aquarium salt, hmmm? (I don't use aquarium salt for any of my fish.)

Ponds are for koi. A galvanized tank will rust. You have to have a power filter - a bog filter isn't sufficient. What about predators? What will you feed?

Plant fertilizers for outdoor plants will be bad for the fish. (They don't get the notion of the self-sustaining eco-system...fish poo equals good plants, good plants equal nicely filtered water.)

And on, and on, and on.

04-23-2013 08:23 PM

Sharpchick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lia

Thanks I meant the predrilled hole as did not want that and would think the plug would leak so now looking at Tuff stuff brand.

The hole is toward the top on the narrow end. Plug is holding well so far. We put it in the wall from the inside of the container.

04-23-2013 08:06 PM

Lia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharpchick

I planted the bog plants with the dirt around the roots intact. Until there is a sufficient fish bioload, the plants won't have the fish waste to use for nutrients.

After reading all winter about this, it's going to be exciting to see if I can create a fairly self-sustaining eco-system in this pond. Posting about it in two different places has had some interesting results, too. Ponders think it's a cool idea for a small, "contained" pond, and goldfish aquaria folks are full of all sorts of dire warnings.

The most interesting thing to me is that, with sufficient space, you could create a contained bog filter on a much smaller scale inside for a goldfish tank.

What warnings do the goldfish people give?

Imagine the heat.

04-23-2013 08:04 PM

Lia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharpchick

If you're talking about the pre-drilled hole, they send you a plug for it.

If you're talking about drilling your own holes, use saw bit attachments for your drill.

Or borrow someone else's...

Thanks I meant the predrilled hole as did not want that and would think the plug would leak so now looking at Tuff stuff brand.

04-23-2013 07:57 PM

Sharpchick

If you're talking about the pre-drilled hole, they send you a plug for it.

If you're talking about drilling your own holes, use saw bit attachments for your drill.

Or borrow someone else's...

04-23-2013 07:50 PM

Lia

That came out great. I loved the laguna 60 gall water trough pic , I was thinking of ordering one but the hole part was no good for me.

04-20-2013 01:55 PM

Shangrila

I can see why you are called SharpChick!!!! Very slick and well explained.

04-20-2013 01:13 PM

Sharpchick

I planted the bog plants with the dirt around the roots intact. Until there is a sufficient fish bioload, the plants won't have the fish waste to use for nutrients.

After reading all winter about this, it's going to be exciting to see if I can create a fairly self-sustaining eco-system in this pond. Posting about it in two different places has had some interesting results, too. Ponders think it's a cool idea for a small, "contained" pond, and goldfish aquaria folks are full of all sorts of dire warnings.

The most interesting thing to me is that, with sufficient space, you could create a contained bog filter on a much smaller scale inside for a goldfish tank.

04-20-2013 01:00 PM

Diana

Plants are a great filter for more than just the things we test for. I'll bet the fish do great as the plant filter gets up to speed.

04-19-2013 04:01 AM

Sharpchick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diana

Wonderful write up! Very clear, and great pictures!

You did the right thing in not gluing the PVC that is under little or no pressure. If it leaks, who cares? It is inside the filter!

Thanks. I can't wait to see how everything fills in. I am also really curious to compare growth rates of the fish in the pond vs. in a tank.

04-19-2013 03:53 AM

Diana

Wonderful write up! Very clear, and great pictures!

You did the right thing in not gluing the PVC that is under little or no pressure. If it leaks, who cares? It is inside the filter!

04-18-2013 11:27 PM

Sharpchick

Fedex got here today before the storm. I talked to the guy at my LFS yesterday when I bought sweet flag (Acorus gramineus 'Ogon') from him, and he told me to go ahead and plant when the plants were delivered. He pointed out that I had ordered mostly hardy plants, and his had overwintered in place.

Since it wasn't raining when they got here, I'm taking the chance (we will have lows of about 38-40 degrees F tonight and tomorrow night).

The photos were before the storm. Most of the duckweed was forced down and into the submerged plants, and I don't know how frost hardy it is, so I'm leaving it there for now. I expect to have to add to the floating plants after this spot of weather. I'll probably add some azolla, which I can get locally.

The bog flooded. I went out during some slack in the rain, and removed the matala from the outspout going from the bog into the pond, and that cured that.

So now, I wait out the weather...

04-18-2013 06:40 PM

micheljq

Very interesting, i want one in my courtyard, keep the pics coming.

Thank you, Michel.

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